Chapter 23 : Outcome

BOOM!

A deafening explosion shook the entire arena as a massive wave of fire and smoke engulfed Arena 7. If not for the protective barrier surrounding the stage, the blast would have spread to neighboring arenas, causing untold chaos. The crowd fell silent, their gazes fixed on the thick smoke that now shrouded the battlefield. From the outset, most had expected this match to end quickly—after all, the gap in cultivation between the two fighters was glaringly obvious. Jiang Haoran wasn't just any opponent; he was the Saint of the Azure Sect, a prodigy capable of holding his own against ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Yet, watching Chen Fan's swift and calculated actions continuously push Jiang Haoran into a disadvantage had left not only the audience but even the representatives from various sects stunned.

The moments dragged on as the smoke lingered, obscuring the outcome. Then, two vague silhouettes began to emerge within the haze, causing the spectators to edge closer to their seats, desperate to see the aftermath. When the smoke finally cleared, the scene that unfolded left every eye widened in disbelief.

Jiang Haoran lay sprawled outside the arena, his body riddled with severe burns, his robes torn and charred. Meanwhile, Chen Fan stood tall at the center of the stage, his appearance utterly unscathed. His robes were immaculate, his breathing calm and steady, as if the entire battle had barely taxed him.

It seems I overestimated myself, Chen Fan thought, his gaze shifting toward his defeated opponent. Initially, he had resolved to rely only on body enhancement techniques and elemental control for this fight. He had no intention of using the more advanced and lethal techniques his master had taught him—techniques that could easily prove fatal if his opponent failed to guard against them. After all, even opponents in the same realm wouldn't likely survive if he resorted to his full arsenal.

Chen Fan's calm demeanor belied the chaotic events moments earlier. When Jiang Haoran had clapped his hands to disrupt the compressed fireball Chen Fan had created—a dense sphere no larger than a ping-pong ball—the concentrated energy had spiraled out of control. The ensuing eruption unleashed a chaotic, destructive wave of fire that momentarily escaped Chen Fan's control. Without hesitation, he had resorted to one of his trump cards: Annihilation. A technique that erased anything his Qi touched from existence—whether it was energy or matter. 

While the crowd erupted in awe and disbelief, Chen Fan remained composed, his gaze fixed on Jiang Haoran's unconscious form as he lay outside the arena. In truth, Chen Fan's Qi reserves were critically depleted, with only a quarter remaining. The Annihilation technique had consumed half of his reserves just to generate a defensive Qi barrier around his body for a few fleeting seconds. He silently acknowledged that, in his current state, it would be hard to face another opponent of Jiang Haoran's caliber.

Moments later, medics arrived to carry Jiang Haoran away for treatment. Chen Fan watched the departing figure for a brief moment before stepping down from the arena. As he descended, the crowd's gazes followed him, their expressions now filled with admiration and curiosity. It was clear to everyone that Chen Fan had become the tournament's dark horse—someone who had defied expectations and reshaped the narrative of this competition.

"Hahaha! Brother Chen, I knew you'd win!" Sun Xi's boisterous laugh broke through the murmurs of the audience as he approached Chen Fan.

"Oh? That's funny. I seem to recall you placing a bet on Jiang Haoran," Chen Fan replied with a teasing smirk.

"Ah? No, no, Brother Chen, you've got it all wrong! Someone must be framing me!" Sun Xi quickly defended himself, his face full of mock indignation.

"Haha, relax. I'm just messing with you," Chen Fan said with a chuckle.

Sun Xi froze for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Haha! Brother, don't scare me like that again. It's bad for my heart!"

The two began walking back to their seats, intending to watch the remaining matches. As they passed through the buzzing crowd, Chen Fan could feel the weight of countless eyes on him.

"Brother, you realize you've become the center of attention now, right?" Sun Xi grinned. "Your victory odds are now on par with the other Saints. People are starting to think you might actually win this whole thing." 

Seeing that Chen Fan seemed indifferent to the growing admiration around him, Sun Xi decided to steer the conversation in a new direction. "By the way, Brother Chen, while you were fighting earlier, the other two Saints also had their matches."

Hearing this, a flicker of interest flashed in Chen Fan's eyes.

"But their fights ended in a single move," Sun Xi continued, his voice tinged with awe. "Their opponents couldn't even react, and those weren't just random participants—they were core disciples of their sects." He pulled out his phone and handed it to Chen Fan. "I figured you'd want to see them in action, so I recorded their matches. Thankfully, their arenas were right next to each other."

Chen Fan took the phone and watched the video. In one arena, a woman with pure white hair cascading to her waist swept her hand lightly. Instantly, her opponent was encased in ice, immobilized with only their head visible. It was over before it even began. In the adjacent arena, a man with pitch-black hair stood motionless. His opponent appeared disoriented, their eyes unfocused as though caught in an illusion. Ten seconds later, blood began trickling from the victim's eyes before they collapsed unconscious.

"Mental and ice-based attacks, huh?" Chen Fan muttered, his lips curling into a smile brimming with intrigue. His interest in facing these two Saints grew stronger.

"That's right, Brother Chen. Unlike Jiang Haoran, who has a diverse set of techniques, the other two Saints specialize in their respective fields. Bai Mulan, the Saintess, focuses entirely on ice-based techniques, while Gu Muchen's strength lies in mental attacks and illusions," Sun Xi explained.

Seeing Chen Fan's eager smile deepen, Sun Xi hesitated, swallowing the words he was about to say. Rumor had it that Jiang Haoran was considered the weakest among the three Saints. Yet, comparing Jiang Haoran's condition to the calm and unscathed Chen Fan, Sun Xi was certain his new friend hadn't even shown the full extent of his strength during their battle. He couldn't help but anticipate how far Chen Fan might go.

The competition pressed on, match after match, with the audience's focus centered on three individuals: Bai Mulan, Gu Muchen, and Chen Fan. Compared to these three, the remaining participants were clearly outclassed. Their matches either ended in a single attack or resulted in opponents surrendering outright before a fight could even begin. It was clear that the title of "Saint" wasn't just ceremonial—it signified a level of strength far beyond the norm.

By the time the clock struck 6 p.m., only four competitors remained: Chen Fan, Gu Muchen, Bai Mulan, and Zhou Yuze. Among them, Zhou Yuze was undoubtedly the most unexpected finalist. His journey to the quarterfinals had been grueling—every match was a hard-fought victory, leaving him battered, bruised, and scarred. Despite this, he had managed to claw his way to the top four, though the audience held little hope for his chances against the remaining Saints.

Meanwhile, Jiang Haoran watched the proceedings in silence, his emotions a turbulent mix of bitterness and regret. He couldn't shake the discomfort of being the only Saint eliminated so early in the tournament. His gaze lingered on Zhou Yuze and especially Chen Fan, the latter standing in the spot that, in Jiang Haoran's mind, should have been his.

If only I'd taken that fight seriously from the start... The thought looped endlessly in his mind. Whether he would have won or not was uncertain, but he couldn't help imagining how things might have turned out had he chosen a different path.

To this day, he wasn't entirely sure how Chen Fan had emerged from their battle completely unscathed. His final move had been a desperate attempt to force a draw, knowing the explosion would send them both out of bounds. Yet, Chen Fan had not only withstood it but had also turned the tables decisively.

I hope you win, Jiang Haoran thought with a bitter smile. At least then, my loss won't seem so embarrassing. Quietly, he turned his attention back to the arena.

The old man overseeing the tournament stepped forward and announced the schedule for the final matches. His tone was as curt as ever. "The competition will resume tomorrow. The first match will be between Chen Fan and Bai Mulan, followed by Gu Muchen versus Zhou Yuze. The matches will continue until we determine the rankings for first through fourth place. Afterward, a free challenge round will be held. Anyone eliminated today may challenge the top ten for a chance to replace their position. That's all. You're dismissed."

Accustomed to the elder's concise speeches, the crowd began to disperse. Chen Fan glanced briefly at the other three competitors before departing with a faint smile.

As he walked away, deep in conversation with Sun Xi and another middle-aged man, Bai Mulan watched him from a distance, her expression unreadable.